Master of Culinary Arts
The Master of Culinary Arts (MCA) is regarded as the ultimate accolade for chefs, pastry chefs and restaurant managers in the UK. Held every four years, these prestigious awards recognise outstanding craftsmanship.
Inspired and supported by iconic chefs Michel Bourdin and Albert and Michel Roux OBEs, the MCA was inaugurated in 1987 when it was originally known as the MeilleurOuvrier de Grande Bretagne and based on the MeilleurOuvrier de France. Our committee is made up of leading figures from the hospitality industry.
2022 MCA’s
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![Alistair Birt MCA]()
Alistair Birt MCA
Senior Head Chef, Harrods
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Jamie Houton MCA
Pastry Sous Chef, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
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Spencer Metzger MCA
Head Chef, The Ritz London
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![George Blogg MCA]()
George Blogg MCA
Executive Head Chef, Gravetye Manor
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![Daniel Crump MCA]()
Daniel Crump MCA
Proprietor, The Greyhound Pub & Dining
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![Antonino Forte MCA]()
Antonino Forte MCA
Restaurant Manager, Galvin at Windows
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![Devid Isabella MCA]()
Devid Isabella MCA
Director of Food and Beverage, The Goring
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![Thomas Borghi MCA]()
Thomas Borghi MCA
Restaurant Manager, The Lanesborough
Watch the masters in action
Pastry Final, University of West London
Service Final, Bibendum
Kitchen Final, University of West London
Watch the journey that it takes to become a Master of Culinary Arts. One of dedication and mastery of their craft.
Educational Sponsor
our sponsors
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Berkman wine cellars
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Ritter Courivaud
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Caffe Musetti
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Laurent-Perrier
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Winterhalter
Meet our Chairmen
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![Sergio Rebecchi]()
Sergio Rebecchi
Chairman of Restaurant Management & Service
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Silvano Giraldin
Chairman of Restaurant Management & Service
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![Michael Nadell]()
Michael Nadell
Chairman of Pastry
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![Idris Caldora MCA]()
Idris Caldora MCA
Chairman of Chefs
Master of culinary arts
CULINARY SKILLS
1987
Michael Aldridge
Michel Perraud
Antony Worrall Thompson
1991
Steven Doherty
Roger Narbett
1996
Idris Caldora
Mark Gregory
Georg Heise
2000
Jerome Ponchelle
Keith Stanley
Eyck Zimmer
2005
André Garrett
Martin Green
2009
Michael Dutnall
James Holah
2013
William Best
Jeremy Ford
Frederick Forster
Jeff Galvin
Steve Love
2017
Adam Bennett
Chris Hill
Adam Smith
Adam Thomason
Anthony Wright
2022
George Blogg
Spencer Metzger
PASTRY
1996
Claire Clark
2000
Yolande Stanley
2005
Benoit Blin
2009
Kofi Addai-Mensah
2013
William Curley
Denis Drame
Paul Williams
2022
Alistair Birt
Jamie Houghton
RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT AND SERVICE
1991
Franco Campioni
Christophe Laurent
1996
Donato Colasanto
Thierry Tomasin
2000
David Hayward
Diego Masciaga
Vito Scaduto
2009
François Bertrand
Joël Claustre
Brad Gent
Jean Kessler
Emmanuel Landré
Michael Newton-Young
2013
Mourad Ben Tekfa
Luigi Cagnin
Sergio Cappello
David Galetti
Robert Rose
Elaine Watson
2017
Alessandro Fasoli
Giovanni Ferlito
2022
Thomas Borghi
Daniel Crump
Antonino Forte
Devid Isabella
Committees and Judges
Chairman of the MCA: David Pitchford, Proprietor, Reads Restaurant with Rooms
Chefs
Chairman: Idris Caldora MCA, Executive Chef, Adopt a School
Committee: André Garrett MCA, Executive Head Chef, The Corinthia London
Martin Green MCA, Head Chef, Whites Club
John Williams MBE, Executive Chef, The Ritz London
Jeff Galvin MCA, Chef Patron Galvin Restaurants
Adam Smith MCA, Executive Chef, Coworth Park
Adam Bennett MCA, Chef Director, The Cross at Kenilworth
Pastry Chefs
Chairmen: Michael Nadell
Committee: Benoit Blin MCA, Head Pastry Chef, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
William Curley MCA, Patissier-Chocolatier, William Curley
Denis Drame MCA, Executive Chef, The Taste Lab, Classic Fine Foods
Yolande Stanley MCA, Consultant Pastry Chef Lecturer, The Pastry Training Company
Restaurant Management & Service
Chairmen: Silvano Giraldin, Director, Le Gavroche
Sergio Rebecchi, Director, Serenata Hospitality
Vice Chairmen: John Cousins, Director, The Food and Beverage Training Company
Didier Garnier, Proprietor, Le Colombier
Committee: Mourad Ben Tekfa MCA, Restaurant Director, The Seren Collection
Luigi Cagnin MCA, Restaurant Manager The Ritz Restaurant
Joël Claustre MCA, Operations Director Bill's Restaurants
Alessandro Fasoli MCA, Director of Operations The Woodspeen - The Clockspire
Simon Girling, Director of Food and Beverage The Ritz London
Rémy Lysé, Chief Operating Officer The Arts Club
Michael Newton-Young MCA, Proprietor Chez Moi Restaurant
Robert Rose MCA, Restaurant Director, Core by Clare Smyth
Thierry Tomasin MCA, Restaurant Director, Savoy Grill - Gordon Ramsay
Elaine Watson MCA, Food and Beverage Trainer The Gleneagles Hotel
The master of culinary arts will return in 2026
Interested in competing? Fill out the form below. We can't wait to hear from you!